Two Types of Living And Dying

The Wisdom of the Gurbani indicates two kinds of living — life, existence, state, “ਜੀਵਨਾ-Jeevanaa“:

Living at the body-level (i.e., Maya)

Living at the Aatmaa or soul-level (i.e., the Gurmukh Lifestyle or Divine Life)

Corresponding to the two kinds of living, death (Maran) is also of two kinds.

Living at the body-level

This is essentially Mayaic lifestyle, living with the consciousness of I-am-the-body-idea which is denoted in the Gurbani as Manmukh lifestyle, Saakat lifestyle, Mayadhaaree lifestyle, or a state of “Rol Ghacholaa“. Such lifestyle is oblivious of the Shabad, Naam, Hukam, Divinity (Divine Virtues, Wisdom, Goodness, etc.) within and without, etc — Shreerak-Jeevanaa, ਸਰੀਰ ਦੇ ਤਲ ਤੇ ਜੀਵਨ…

ਮਾਇਆਧਾਰੀ ਅਤਿ ਅੰਨਾ ਬੋਲਾ ॥: One who is attached to Maya is (spiritually) very much blind and deaf (to the Gur-Shabad…). (sggs 313).

Thus, according to the Gurbani, those who live at the body level are Mayadhaaree or mammon worshipers — the world of Maya or senses, doubts, body-consciousness, Haumai, etc. The Gurbani considers such lifestyle to be “Dhrigu-ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ” (cursed, disdainful, etc.), thus disapproved.

ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਖਾਣਾ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਪੈਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਣਾ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥: Cursed is eating and wearing (ਖਾਣਾ ਹੰਢਾਣਾ) of those who are attached to the love of duality (Maya). (sggs 1347).

Hence, according to the Gurbani, they alone live (“ਸੋ ਜੀਵਤ”), who, while alive, constantly remains engaged in obtaining Spiritual understanding through the Shbaad-Vichaar and remain linked to their Mool.

Upon dying in the Sahbad, the old being (Manmukh, Saakat, Mayadhaaree) “dies”, and gets “reborn” as a new Spiritual Being called Gurmukh in the Gurbani. Then, as a living dead or living liberated (“ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰਣਾ”), he sees without eyes; he hears without ears; he walks without feet; he works without hands; he speaks without tongue…! Only a Gurmukh’s mind is fearless to leave the “Trikutee-ਤ੍ਰਿਕੁਟੀ” and come to rest into the Heart (“Hirdaa-ਹਿਰਦਾ” or “Ghat-ਘਟ” or “Dasavaa Duaaru-ਦਸਵਾ ਦੁਆਰੁ”). The Gurbani confirms this Spiritual State, which is beyond senses:

Two types of death

As there are two types of living, accordingly, there are two types of dying (Maranaa, death).

The Gurbani’s edict (ਫੈਸਲਾ) is that unless one is spiritually Awakened, he is not yet alive — he is as dead (Aatmac Maut-ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤੇ ਮਰਿਆ)!

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਜਿਨੀ ਨ ਸੇਵਿਓ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕੀਤੋ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਆਇਓ ਮਿਰਤਕੁ ਹੈ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ॥: (Those Jeev) who have not served the “Satiguru” – have not engaged in Shabad-Vichaar – (in this way) no Divine Wisdom has dawned in their Heart, (they may appear as alive but they) are as dead in the world (spiritually dead-ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ). (sggs 88).

The worldly people (Mamukhs, Saakat, Mayadhaaree…) consider demise of the physical body-frame a real death. Therefore, the worldly people only know dying at the level of the gross body (ਸਰੀਰ ਦੇ ਤਲ ਤੇ ਮਰਨਾ). Consequently, they are scared of death of the body. However, the Gurbani does not consider it real death (Maran):

The Gurbani defines the real death

According to the Gurbani, the real death is to die while still alive: To become liberated-in-life, to become living dead, to become Jeevanmukta, to become liberated from bondage of worldly life while living in the midst of Maya, to become free of false ego-sense (Haumai)…

So, by becoming the Gurmukh, the Gurbani asks us to die in the Shabad, while alive. Since the Gurmukh abides in the Divine Hukam instead of self-will (ਅਪਣੀ ਮਰਜੀ), the real death is to give up self-will (Manmukhataa, ਅਪਣੀ ਮਰਜੀ…) — total abandonment of all mental conditioning, without the least reserve.

Love and Gratitude to T Singh Ji. Such an enlightening post ! Deluded by imaginations all the time so far I lived in time ! Living as life itself I do not imagine and I am right here right now ! Akaaal ! Love Love and only Love to you!